ead and dying.

16. "She was as great a beauty as ever I did see," said the man. "A
perfect pullet!--that she was. But, dear me! she is not perfect now
that her toe is gone.

17. "She is good for nothing now but to lay eggs and bring up chicks.
She was worth a couple of pounds; now she would only fetch a couple of
shillings.

18. "Here, Jack, tie a bit of rag round the stump, and give her food
and water in that spare box. I cannot bear to wring her neck, as we are
forced to do with many, to put them out of pain."

* * * * *

_Write:_ Poor Betty had her toe bitten off. She was put into a place
out of sight. Here she was in great pain, and had lost all hopes of a
prize.

Questions: 1. After a time how did Betty feel? 2. What did
she do with her foot? 3. What happened to one of her toes?
4. Where was she put after her toe was bitten off? 5. What
was the boy told to do for Betty? 6. What did the man say
that she was fit for now?

6. A NEW HOME.

1. Poor Betty had plenty of time to think over all her troubles. But
after two or three days she heard a sound which made her feel very
happy.

2. It was the voice of her old friend the coachman, who had come to
fetch her away. She cackled to him in a most loving way; but, alas! the
coachman had nothing to say to her.

[Illustration: THE NEW HOME.]

3. He was cross and sulky because Betty had not won a prize.

"Poor thing!" said the cook when Betty got home, "what an object she
looks to be sure! She is as light as a feather.

4. "The mother that hatched her won't know her again. I declare that I
don't believe this is our Betty at all, but some old rubbish of a bird
they have sent us instead!"

5. "Oh yes," said her mistress, coming up to look, "it is our Betty.
But I beg of you to get rid of her at once. I cannot bear the sight of
her after thinking she would get a prize."

6. "Shall I step out and do it at once?" said the cook, calmly.

"No, no!" said the mistress. "Do not kill her. Give her away. She will
be a useful hen to some one else, and is sure to lay plenty of eggs."

"Very good, ma'am," replied the cook.

7. There was no washing this time before Betty was sent away. That was
one comfort. She was huddled, just as she was, into a hamper, and sent
as a present to a friend of the cook.

8. This friend was the wife of a farmer, and she was such a kind, good,
rosy, happy, pleasant woman, that it